Tips for Learning to Read Sheet Music for Guitar

Tips for Learning to Read Sheet Music for Guitar Suzy S. Although it is possible to learn to play guitar without reading sheet music, adding this skill to your arsenal will make you a better musician. Not sure where to start with sheet music on your guitar? Follow music teacher Eric J.s advice and youll be sightreading in no time Learning to read music is important. It increases your understanding of your instrument and makes you more valuable as a musician. Reading music for guitar allows you to collaborate with other instrumentalists in ways most guitar players cant. Even if you have tons of chops or know all about music theory: if you want to wear the Good Guitarist badge with pride you will need to be able read music for your instrument. Heres how to get started. Clear your mind Forget everything you know about your guitar. This is especially important if you already know how to play a little bit. Its even more important if you are already an experienced player. Are you a pretty solid guitarist who knows their chords and licks and can solo over rock and roll songs? If you are, excellent! You can potentially have great success as a music reader because you wont have to learn technique along with reading like most beginners. That being said: Assume you know nothing about guitar from this moment on. Get a good method book A good introductory method book is worth its weight in gold and you can get one at your local music store for about ten dollars. You need material that is graded. That just means a good method book will introduce new concepts in a logical manner and repertoire should increase in complexity gradually without too many sudden leaps in difficulty. The Mel Bay Guitar Method is the tried and true course for the aspiring reader. Its been in print for decades and is wonderfully graded. The Hal Leonard Guitar Method series is also wonderful. It doesnt move quite as fast as the Mel Bay books do, though. If you are already skilled at playing and want a more adult book, Modern Method for Guitar by William Leavitt is a great series. Find a good teacher Once you have your method book you are going to need a guitar teacher to help work through it with you. This is extremely important, even in the beginning stages. Entry level material may throw you some mental curve balls if you are completely new to reading music, and you are going to need a mentor to help guide you through them. A good teacher will be able to keep you focused. Reading is hard and it takes quite a bit of brain power and a good teacher will be able to monitor your tone, technique and rhythm while you focus on navigating the music. Dont just read guitar music This is super important. The method books are great, but in the end they are only that: method books. Most of the material you read in your book will be applicable in the real world but is just a small sliver of what out there. Any music written in the treble clef should do the trick. Start hunting for sheet music. A good web resource is the Petrucci Music Library. Call your local music store and ask them if they have any overstock, damaged or otherwise forgotten about sheet music lying around. Anything will do. Check out garage sales and thrift stores. Dont discriminate. Get as much as you can for as many instruments and in as many styles are you can manage. Stack it up by your music stand so it is always within reach when you practice. Always try to read something every single day Remember that stack of sheet music you put next to your music stand? Pull out one page from it every single day and read the whole page start to finish. Dont pick and choose which tune to play. Play the first page in the pile no matter how difficult it looks. Play the whole page one time and put that page in the bottom of the stack. You need to get your eyes and your brain used to looking at as much of this material as possible. Dont stress on making it sound good. Just read the page and move on. Understand what sightreading is Sightreading is the ability to read sheet music at performance level at full tempo without having to hear the material beforehand. Think of it like reading a book out loud in a school classroom. If you were asked to read a paragraph from a book youve never read before Im guessing youd be able to read it fluently and with some natural grace despite never having read that exact paragraph of text before. That is what sight-reading is, except with music. Reading from your big stack of random music every day will help refine your sightreading ability. Never, ever, ever say I read tabs Not to sound flippant, but this is important. Tablature is a handy tool, especially for beginners. Tablature allows us to have fun on our instrument without actually having to read and that is a good thing, in moderation. However, tablature is not Sheet Music. It has limitations in the way it displays melodic content and has no way to display rhythmic content. For these reasons tablature cannot be sight-read. The faster you get away from looking at it the faster you will become a good reader. Hopefully these tips will help you get started reading sheet music on your guitar. Remember to take it slow and to practice consistently. Reading a little bit throughout the week is sometimes better than cramming four hours of practice in the night before your lesson. If you focus and set goals your reading skills will improve and you will be a much more valuable musician as a result. Eric J. teaches  acoustic guitar, bass guitar, blues guitar and country guitar  in Elgin, IL.  He received his Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University.    Eric has been educating students for the past twelve years.  Learn more about Eric J. here! View all Takelessons.com Free Sheet Music Resources. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Richard Tenspeed Heaven

5 Power User Email Tips to Help You Avoid the Phone - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Power User Email Tips to Help You Avoid the Phone - Introvert Whisperer 5 Power User Email Tips to Help You Avoid the Phone Business phone calls are unpleasant for many people. Some millennials refuse to even check their voicemail and for those who are shy, anxious, or introverted the idea of a business call is reminiscent of a root canal. Email provides a more comfortable platform for introverts, and when used well can help you delay or eliminate unnecessary phone calls. Once you’ve got those basics of email etiquette down, it’s time get your inbox running at maximum efficiency. This will ensure timely replies and eliminate missed notificationsâ€"the biggest reason most coworkers or clients will pick up the phone. These tips will keep your emails clear and efficient so you can avoid lengthy and uncomfortable phone calls. 1) Learn how to snooze emails so you can get back to them later. Many people treat their email inbox as a to-do list, but it’s easy for tasks to fall through the cracks. To avoid a desperate phone call from an email sender, you’ll have to stay on top of these action items. One way to do so is to snooze your email, just like an alarm clock. Luckily, this feature is available on multiple platforms. Boomerang and Google’s Inbox app offer snooze for Gmailâ€"for both your inbox and outbox. Just install the add-on. Streak works with an email to manage sales leads and outreach inquiries, and promotes snooze as a way to a ‘zero inbox’. And don’t forget inbox aggregators like Spark. This multi-email platform allows you to pin emails to the top or snooze with a simple swipe. 2) Red flags, gold stars, and much more. Marking items as important will help you address concerns before anyone has the chance to start dialing their phone. And flagging features available today go further than the gold star you might remember. Gmail offers hidden options to use multi-colored stars, which you can use to denote different priority levels or different accounts. Search your Settings. Go to General, then the section titled Stars. Select “All Stars” to enable more than just a few colors. You’ll get red, orange, yellow, purple, green, and blue. Plus, you’ll get additional arrows, exclamations, checkboxes, and more. If you don’t use Gmail, use flagging features to mark specific emails as a priority in programs like Outlook. You can display flag status by changing your Column view in View Settings. Set flags as reminders for your recipients or yourself based on dates (much like snoozing.) This will allow you to track an email or follow up by a specific date. You can also set flag colors. Create colors through the use of flag categories. MS Office support provides a few simple steps to walk you through this option. 3) Install a grammar checker so you always sound well-spoken. Almost every email program has basic spelling and grammar checks. Make sure these are turned on at all times. In Outlook you’ll find this under ToolsOptionsSpelling. Click the “Always check spelling before sending” box. Spell check should also be automatic for Gmail, but if not click the down arrow in the lower right corner of your message and click Check Spelling. In Yahoo! Mail, go to the formatting toolbar, usually marked by either an ABC button or the word Format. You may need to switch to rich text, but then click the arrow near Spelling to change your settings. The problem is, spelling isn’t the only issue that can derail your writing. If you want to correct effect to affect, or correctly catch “at vs an” you’ll need a heavy-duty grammar checker. Try Grammarly. This app is an add-on that works with many existing programs in-app, and can also be used as a pop-up for programs that don’t support the software. 4) Manage folders and filters to keep everything sorted. If all your communication is happening over email, then sending everything to a single inbox folder can quickly result in overload. Gmail introduced a game-changing feature when they divided the inbox into Primary, Social, and Promotions, but you can take this one step farther. Set up filters and put high-priority items front and center, but leave low-priority emails to be filed at a later date. Create detailed rules within Gmail to filter your messages explicitly. For example, you can set all messages from the VP@acmecompany.com to go straight to your primary inbox. Try setting a secondary filter flagging any messages with a subject line such as: “Buy this” to land in your promotions, no matter who the sender is. If you aren’t using Gmail, don’t despair. Search under Rules in Outlook, Mac Mail, Lotus Notes, and in Options under Yahoo! too. 5) Use delayed send so you can go back in time. Have you ever hit send on an email before you were finished writing? Worse yet, have you sent to the wrong recipient, or included internal notes you didn’t intend? Delayed send is like your personal time machine letting you go back and “unsend” that message. Outlook offers a simple version of this feature. Look under OptionsMore OptionsDelay Delivery. This delay will allow you to send at a specific time, leaving room to go back and make changes if needed. Gmail expands on this idea with Undo Send. Originally part of Google Labs, this became a part of standard Gmail in 2015. Undo Send offers you the ability to “take back” that email quickly after you’ve sent it. Choose from options to wait 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds before your message goes through. You don’t have to hop on the phone to be efficient. Avoid uncomfortable calls by managing your inbox efficiently with flags and filters to ensure timely communication on important issues. Guarantee accuracy with correct spelling and grammar and delay the send of an unprofessional reply. By ensuring your email communication is top notch, you’ll be able to sit back behind that computer and relax, and maybe, even turn that cell ringer off. Bio Angela Nino is a training manager at Versitasâ€"instructor-led, on-site or online business skills classes delivered exclusively to your team or company, including free web-based reporting of student performance and ROI stats delivered to your desktop. Angela also manages the Versitas blog. Go to top NETWORKING Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Using the Science of Habits to Improve Performance in School Part II

Using the Science of Habits to Improve Performance in School Part II Improving Academic Performance In a previous article on the power of habits, we discussed how habits are a tool our brains use to be more efficient. Instead of consciously analyzing every situation, thinking about various courses of action, and then deciding what to do, we use habits to automatically do this or that to save time. In theory, this allows us to decide to use our brain power to focus on things that really matter and really do require conscious deliberation. This is sometimes a good and sometimes a bad thing. It’s good when the habit is brushing our teeth each morning and night, or looking both ways before we cross the street. It’s bad when we grab a few cookies without even thinking about it when we are bored, or react negatively to constructive feedback. Consider this quote by the philosopher William James â€" “All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized for our weal or woe, and bearing us irresistibly toward our destiny, whatever the latter may be.” What should be clear, then, is that habits are powerful. They often end up determining how we behave in a wide variety of areas, and play a large part in our personality and success in school, work, and life. In our last article, we also covered how habits work (i.e., the cue, craving, routine, reward sequence) and how to change them (identify the cue, then change the routine…) and briefly discussed the importance of keystone habits. In this article, we’ll do two things. First, we’ll go into more detail on the importance of keystone habits and second, we’ll discuss how students can harness the power of habits to earn better grades, get higher test scores, and generally perform better in school. The Importance of Keystone Habits “Typically, people who exercise, start eating better and become more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. Exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change.” Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit Keystone habits are habits that seem to have spillover effects. For whatever reason, they seem to be the type of habits that once formed, make it easier to form other positive habits. Duhigg and others hypothesize that a keystone habit, even when it may be a small action or activity, tends to influence how you conceptualize yourself. A keystone habit reflects the type of person you are choosing to be. Perhaps the most common keystone habit I’ve read about seems to be exercising regularly, as referenced in the above quote. So, the idea is that once you start exercising, you are more likely to eat well, because you are becoming the type of person who is healthy. From there, you can envision that it obviously becomes easier to stop smoking or drinking, because those aren’t activities that a healthy person engages in. But it’s probably also a little easier to build a habit around reading more books or meditating, because once you begin to view yourself as physically healthy, introducing habits to improve mental health as well seems complementary. Robert Sun wrote an interesting article for the Huffington Post, suggesting that developing proficiency in math through deliberate, focused practice could be a keystone habit for students that spills over into all other subjects. We’ll return specifically to habits for students later in this article. An important driver behind the importance of keystone habits is the notion that small, incremental change can lead to large change and improvement over time. Again, from the book by Duhigg â€" “Small wins are exactly what they sound like, and are part of how keystone habits create widespread changes. A huge body of research has shown that small wins have enormous power, an influence disproportionate to the accomplishments of the victories themselves.“ So, you might have a long-term goal to lose 100 pounds or improve your grade in a class from a D to an A or come back from a 20 point deficit at halftime to win a basketball game. None of those impressive, “large” victories is possible without a collection of small victories. Building a habit of doing one minute of running in place each morning, boxing out on defense on every play, or completing every single homework assignment are all small steps which will not by themselves accomplish the larger goal, but which are probably necessary steps along the right path. How students can leverage habits to improve academic performance Harnessing the power of habits is a powerful strategy for success in school. Students can think about three different categories of habits that could lead to improved performance: Mental habits that influence how you think about success in school and positively or negatively influence your attitude Habits that influence how you spend time or behave before, during, and after class Habits that influence how you perform when taking tests Mental habits that influence how you think about success in school We write a lot on this blog about the importance of a growth mindset, which says that your intellect is more like a muscle you build with effort, not a trait you inherit at birth. A related concept is that of “grit,” which Angela Duckworth documented and wrote her PhD thesis about after discovering that, for example, self-discipline was a more statistically significant predictor of academic success than IQ. Digest that for a moment. The discipline to do homework, keep trying, and put forth sustained effort (i.e., having grit) in school is more important than raw intellect as measured by IQ. Now, back to mental habits. In my experience, many students, without realizing it, have a habit of adopting a “fixed” mindset about school (i.e., believing that they just don’t have the “talent” for a given subject) to explain a lack of effort or a poor result. Other students have a habit of explaining a lack of understanding or performance on the quality or style of the teacher. You might conceptualize these as common, unproductive mental habits. If you notice yourself thinking this way, consider trying to change your habit to something far more positive. For example, say you encounter a difficult calculus problem in class. The current mental habit might go something like: Cue: you notice you do not understand this problem â€" at all. You feel lost. Craving: you don’t want to feel the guilt or bear the responsibility of realizing that with particularly hard work or extra effort, you could understand it. You are busy with many other subjects and activities. Routine: you tell yourself that the folks that do understand these difficult problems have a natural talent for calculus. They don’t even work as hard as you do, and yet they understand the problem. Reward: you are mentally “off the hook” and relieved of the responsibility of asking a question in class, staying late to get extra help, or considering getting a tutor or other form of supplementary help. A different, changed and far more productive mental habit might go something like: Cue: you notice you do not understand this problem â€" at all. You feel lost. Craving: yes, you don’t want to feel the guilt or bear the responsibility of realizing that with particularly hard work or extra effort, you could understand it. You are busy with many other subjects and activities. HOWEVER you also want to do well in school, as you know grades play a large role in getting into a great college. It would feel great to get an A in the class. Routine: you tell yourself that the folks that do understand these difficult problems have probably put in a fair amount of focused effort. It appears easy now, but that’s because they’ve studied hard outside of class, and if you do the same, you’ll understand this problem and others like it, and will be able to do very well in the class. Reward: you are mentally “off the hook” as it relates to dealing with your lack of understanding. But now, instead of the reward being a lack of responsibility for the current situation, it is that you have a plan. You’ll ask a question now, or follow up after class, to make sure you understand the problem. Summary I hope that you now see that habits, and in particular keystone habits, are incredibly important to understand and, hopefully, harness for good. In our next and final article, we’ll cover two more ways that students can leverage an understanding of habits to improve performance in school: Use habits to influence how you spend time or behave before, during, and after class Use habits that influence how you perform when taking tests

Best GRE Prep Guide How to Easily Get the Score You Deserve - Private Tutoring

Best GRE Prep Guide How to Easily Get the Score You Deserve Anna L Jun 14, 2018 We Can Help You Find the Best GRE Tutor Near You! It's Simple and Secure - Get Real Results Fast. Find Expert Private Tutors at Reasonable Rates Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson Weve created our best GRE prep guide to help you easily prepare for your upcoming exam!   The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is the key exam that is required to gain entrance to many graduate programs and some business schools. A successful test prep and solid score will open up schools as well as financial opportunities that you havent explored yet. Whatever the reason for taking the exam, success in this standardized test is crucial. So how to you prepare and study for this unique examination? This guide will help you understand what is involved in the GRE and how you can best prepare yourself to do well on the GRE to achieve the results you deserve. GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Test The GRE General Test features questions that are relevant and useful to the courses you will be taking at graduate or some business schools. The General Test is all you need to gain entry to your desired institution, however, if you are planning on majoring in a specific subject area, then the GRE Subject Test will help set you apart from your competitors. If you have an undergraduate major or extensive background knowledge in any of the following areas, the GRE Subject Test may be an additional test that you want to consider; Biology Chemistry Literature in English Mathematics Physics Psychology Our review guide will look at the GRE General Test, but it is worth considering taking the Subject Test as an extra test option if you feel it will broaden your opportunities that you hadnt thought of before now. Best GRE Prep What is the GRE General Test? There are three sections in the GRE General test; Analytical writing Quantitative reasoning Verbal reasoning The test can be taken on a computer or on paper, though its moving quickly to only being able to be done online. In this test you have the opportunity to skip questions that you don’t feel comfortable with, as well as the opportunity to go back and change your answers. If success doesn’t come the first time around, you may re-sit the test. This may sound appealing (and make you think you dont really need to prepare for it), but the cost for the test must be paid with each attempt so figure out whether or not you want to put in a bit of time to get the results. GRE Test Sections: Whats Included Analytical Writing â€" this section requires focused responses that articulate complex ideas that are supported with relevant reasons and examples. You must examine claims and evidence, and discuss with well written English. Quantitative Reasoning â€" this section examines your ability to understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information. You will use mathematical models to solve problems and your basic skills of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis will be tested. You are allowed to use a calculator when completing this section. Verbal Reasoning â€" here you will analyze and draw conclusions, identify the author’s assumptions and/or perspectives, and understand the author’s intent in a literal and figurative manner. You will be tested on your ability to summarize text, selecting the key points from the text as well as understanding the structure of the text. Your understanding of the meanings of words and sentences will be tested, as will your ability to recognize relationships between words and concepts. How to Prepare and Study for the GRE The skills required to succeed in the test are developed over a period of time and not related to any particular field of study. For this reason, preparation is crucial to success. Unlike many other examinations, where content can be revised and learned, the GRE measures your ability to respond to the information given. By gaining an understanding of the types of questions asked in the test, you will be able to develop the skills to answer the questions accurately and confidently. The following five points are easy ways to prepare and study for the GRE to ensure your greatest success. Best GRE Prep Means Spend the Time Preparing Like many other examinations, last minute studying is not useful. The more time you spend preparing for the GRE, the better your results will be. It is recommended that you spend 4-12 weeks developing your skills for the test. Naturally, spending more time will result in the best outcome possible. Create a Study Plan or Schedule While success in the GRE should be your priority, the fact is that life often gets in the way. Job commitments, exercise, social engagements, and relationships must also take place. In order to spend the necessary time preparing for the GRE, you need to make sure you allocate enough time. Take a look at your week and designate certain times to study, as well as what you will study in each session. Be prepared to make some sacrifices, but remember that it will only be for a short while. Your study schedule needs to be realistic, specific, achievable, and flexible. Use an old fashioned, pen and paper diary or calendar, or schedule study sessions into your phone. Study Sample Questions There is no point spending hours and hours preparing for the GRE if you aren’t preparing effectively. It can be easy to get carried away reviewing content that is not relevant to the examinations. The most valuable method of studying is to focus on practice and sample questions. These give you an excellent understanding of the type of questions that will be asked. Sample questions are easy to find, as are explanations for the correct answers to help ensure you are practicing correctly.   Theres online sources, review books to name just a couple!   Also, dont forget to try timed sample questions. This helps simulate the time pressure of being in the actual exam. Personalize Your Program By understanding your own strengths and weaknesses you will be able to create a study and test prep plan that meets your specific needs. Take a sample full test and see where you are weakest and work to build up those areas. Definitely spend more time on the areas you find difficult, or on the subject areas that are most relevant to your educational goals. GRE Prep Books Additional Resources That Work After you understand what you need to know and how the test is laid out, it’s time to find the right study material. GRE exams are quite common in the US, and you can find prep books in any library or bookshop, all you need to do is start the hunt and find the best ones. Check the official site and see what they recommend. Ask your local librarian if he or she has any other manuals to help you out and take them too. It’s important you find the right sources for studying with up to date information and correct answers.   Weve collected a list of some of our favorites, Check Them Out HERE Find a GRE Tutor Near You Enlisting the help of a professional tutor will help you remain motivated and on the right track to success. They are able to provide valuable feedback and you can really fine tune your skills in the one-on-one environment, whether its an online tutor or in home tutor option. A good local GRE tutor   or GRE tutor online will be able to assist with your study schedule, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and respond accordingly. Finding a good tutor can be difficult. They need to not only have the knowledge and skills to teach you, but also understand your goals. A personality match is also crucial â€" feeling comfortable around your tutor will ensure you ask plenty of questions and are honest about your understanding of key concepts. Check out the following link to find highly qualified GRE tutors in your area: http://www.PrivateTutoringAtHome.com/GRE/ Overall, sitting for the GRE   does not need to become a stressful event for you if you prepare correctly. Understanding how the test works, what are the different types of questions asked, and then implementing some valuable study tips will help you to achieve the results you need to take your education to the next level. Using the best GRE prep tools and taking the time thats needed is all that you have to do. Good luck and let us know how it turns out for you! Find the Best Private Tutors At Reasonable Rates - Get Real Results Fast! Choose Your Subject - Add Your Zip Code - Find Top Rated Tutors Today InPerson or Online Online InPerson

A day in the life teaching English online [Video]

A day in the life teaching English online [Video] We've already talked about how teaching English online is big business these days. That’s why, to help you figure out whether it’s the right career for you, we wanted to get some insight from the perspective of a current online ESL teacher. A while back, Vanessa heard about an online English teaching platform called VIPKID, that allows English speakers to teach English to young learners in China through the magic of video technology. At the time, she was looking for a flexible way to earn extra money after returning home from traveling and teaching English in South Korea. An online English teaching job sounded like the perfect opportunity for her and so, on a whim, Vanessa decided to give it a go. Flash forward to almost a full year later. Vanessa’s still teaching English online on a part-time basis, while studying online for her master’s degree in social work. She’s also here to talk you through her experience so far. So without further ado, let’s hear it from Vanessa!

Secondary School transition what you need to know

Secondary School transition what you need to know The secondary transition can be tricky for a number of reasons, but a key factor is the way subjects are taught in KS3 and KS4. (1) Know the syllabus. Pupils in years 7, 8 and 9 are in KS3. And pupils in years 10 and 11, are in KS4. (2) KS3/4 subjects are taught by subject specialists, which means every lesson has a different teacher, with different expectations and methods. As a new year 7 student, this can be disconcerting and hard to handle but knowing what to expect can help pupils work through the transition. (3) Students need to know their timetable. Moving from class to class is a huge change in secondary school, which is why knowing the timetable is key to arriving in lessons on time and being prepared for each subject. Watch out for rotating timetables and timetable changes. (4) Subject depth. The primary years provide students with the chance to gain general knowledge and build skills. These include basic math abilities, literacy - reading and writing -- and some specialized subject matter such as science. As a secondary school student, your child will go deeper into subject areas and learn more advanced techniques and theories. (5) Push independent work. Be prepared for more independent work and less hand-holding for your child. This means it's up to pupils to remember what they have been told and when assignments are due. (6) Encourage your child to have an informed opinion. This is a big difference from KS2 and one that takes getting used to. Pupils will be asked to express an opinion in work and class. (7) Let your child be responsible for their homework. Again this is a major difference to primary, where you may have had limited or no homework. Secondary education is backed up with independent learning at home, often set daily with various deadlines. Be sure to manage your deadlines effectively and look in advance at all homework set. (8) Get children to embrace new subjects. The move to the KS4 national curriculum brings with it more subjects to study, many of which are practical like Design and Technology, food tech, art and dance and drama. Alongside these, you will also learn a language, humanities (history and geography) and the core subjects - Maths, English, and Science. (9) How they will you be assessed: Secondary school is split into KS3 and KS4. The assessment takes the form of general school exams at the end of KS3 and national GCSEs at the end of KS4. (10) Ask for help if you feel out of your depth. We all want to help our children but sometimes the curriculum moves beyond our own knowledge or the way we were taught. If in doubt approach the school or a subject tutor.

Building a connection with your international students

Building a connection with your international students As foreigner teaching abroad, you might be worried your students have a hard time relating to you. However, the opposite is almost always true - they’re curious and keen to get to know you. Making yourself available and approachable will allow you to forge a stronger connection with your classes. There are a few techniques you can use to achieve this.1. Make yourself approachableAs a new teacher from a different country, your students may not initially feel they can talk to you, particularly if they’re shy when it comes to speaking English. However, if you’re working in a middle or high school, it can be really beneficial to both you and your students to invite them them to come and talk to you at anytime about anything. Dedicate some time in your week to students. Be welcoming and understanding. You could recommend your pupils make an appointment with you, or simply display some available hours on your office door, if you have one.2. Catch up with classSpend a few minutes ever y morning, or at the start of each class, catching up with your students. How are they feeling today? What have they been doing outside of school? Do they have any interesting news? Encourage them to share their lives with you and talk to them about what you’ve been up to as well. What are your hobbies? What local sights have you visited recently or customs have you taken part in? Share your perspectives on life in their country. Not only will you learn more about their lifestyles and their personalities, they’ll also get a valuable insight into how you think and that understand that their teacher is human too! This helps get students engaged with you and settle into their lesson.3. Get involvedIt’s a requirement of many international schools for teachers to take part in extra-curricular activities. If there is an opportunity to do so, offer to run a class or group. Whether it’s sports, music or art, engaging in a fun activity with your students is a fantastic way to gain a better understand them and the way they think, as well as gain their respect and trust. It lends the chance to relax and bond in the school environment.